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The Weekly Bender: You Can Always Come Home

Fri Jul 5 6:00pm ET
By HOWARD BENDER
Fantasy Writer

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There is nothing better than winning your fantasy football league. Whether you’re playing against your friends in a home league or gearing up to take down the $500,000 grand prize in The Fantasy Championship, that euphoric feeling hits you in such a way that sometimes words can’t even describe. But it takes work. It takes tenacity. You don’t just stumble into a championship. You earn it. And that starts with your research here in July. Scouting talent is a top priority for you right now and it’s not just about the NFL players on the field. It’s also about which fantasy analysts you choose to trust each season.

Back in 2011, the folks here at RealTime Fantasy Sports led the way in premier scouting. During a raucous after-party following the FSTA Conference (currently the FSGA) in San Francisco, two of RTSports’ finest made their way to the bar and struck up a conversation with the guy slinging drinks. As it turned out, he also happened to be an aspiring fantasy analyst, freelancing for a couple of sites and looking for more work.

The conversation was light and friendly but intensified when opinions on players and teams came into play. The Giants had just won the World Series and baseball talk was buzzing in the Bay Area. The Green Bay Packers were in mini-camp looking to defend their Super Bowl championship and as we witness every year, the football frenzy was already taking over. With every lager and IPA that hit the bar, the men of RTSports also received formidable opinions, spicy hot takes, boatloads of sarcasm and some pretty entertaining jokes. By the end of the evening, a business card was handed across the bar with a firm demand: “We need a fantasy article written every week with these thoughts, these opinions and this kind of attitude.” With smiles all around and firm handshakes given, “The Weekly Bender” was born.

Yes, all of this, just to re-introduce myself to the community here at RealTime Fantasy Sports. What’s going on, everyone? I am over-the-moon with excitement about being back. In some ways, I never left. Though I was soon offered a full-time position at Fantasy Alarm and the Weekly Bender came to a close, I have remained very active on this website. For years, I hosted the Mock Draft Army here on RTSports and provided fantasy owners an opportunity to mock draft alongside dedicated fantasy players and industry analysts from all over. I’ve hosted numerous best ball drafts here for my audience at SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio and until my return today, have been logging plenty of time turning a profit in the RTSports DFS Pick ‘Em contests.

Yes, I am still over at Fantasy Alarm and you can find all of my fantasy football player rankings, cheat sheets (coming this Monday, July 8), draft strategies and my coaching scheme breakdowns in our Fantasy Football Draft Guide. The community over there is spectacular and I am sure that some of you reading this right now may already be over there. But RTSports has always been a home for me and now that I am back, I cannot wait to jump in.

In addition to the Weekly Bender, an article dedicated to providing winning strategies and picks with a hefty serving of snark, I will also be joining Jeff Paur on his weekly podcast/livestream, sharing videos with DFS Pick ‘Em contest picks, hosting mock drafts to get everyone ready for the 2024 NFL season and even setting up some “Beat Howard Bender” contests so that we can not only play against each other but also give you the opportunity to serve some of that smack-talk back to me.

When Thomas Wolfe wrote “You Can’t Go Home Again,” he was referring to the way nostalgia has us viewing the past in an overly-positive light. For those of you who remember the original Weekly Bender, you know we don’t look back at those pieces with rose-colored glasses. We crushed the research together, we ruled the waiver wire together and we shared championships together. It all comes full circle today and if Wolfe was sitting with me here right now, I’d let him know that you truly can go home again.

Here's to a spectacular 2024 season!

Bender, out!

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Player Notes
Sam Darnold Jul 23 9:00pm CT
Sam Darnold

Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw and the team have agreed on a four-year contract extension worth up to $113 million, with $77 million in guaranteed money for the franchise tackle. A foundational piece for the Vikings since joining the team as a first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the former Virginia Tech Hokie has started 39 of 41 games in three seasons. The pact for the 25-year-old Darrisaw includes $43.7 million at signing and will keep him in purple and gold for the foreseeable future as a protector for Sam Darnold and rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy.

From RotoBaller

Chris Olave Jul 23 8:40pm CT
Chris Olave

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave is set to practice on Wednesday, albeit in a limited fashion. Olave (back) was put on the active/non-football injury list last week as he's been dealing with some minor back tightness but will be good to go to put in some practice work for the team on Wednesday. Olave has put up back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and is the unquestioned top receiver in the New Orleans offense. Fantasy managers should feel comfortable selecting Olave in the early rounds of fantasy drafts yet again this season.

From RotoBaller

Michael Gallup Jul 23 8:30pm CT
Michael Gallup

The Las Vegas Raiders announced on Tuesday night that the team has placed wide receiver Michael Gallup on the reserve/retired list. After six seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, the 28-year-old Gallup signed a one-year pact with the Raiders, where he amassed 266 receptions for 3,744 yards and 21 touchdowns. Gallup's 2023 saw his statistics take a sharp decline, with just 34 receptions, 418 receiving yards, and two touchdowns. The Raiders signed Gallup to add some depth to a receiving corps that, after Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers, was short on experience and a veteran presence. Instead, Gallup has called it a career before Raiders training camp opens on Wednesday.

From RotoBaller

CeeDee Lamb Jul 23 8:10pm CT
CeeDee Lamb

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb is not expected to report to Dallas Cowboys training camp when it opens on Wednesday in Oxnard, CA. With the 25-year-old Lamb entering the final season of a deal that will pay him just shy of $18 million in 2024 under his fifth-year option, Lamb is looking for a long-term contract to secure him as one of the highest-paid wide receivers in the NFL. The concern is minimal for fantasy managers unless the holdout extends deeper into July and into August, but Lamb firmly remains an early-first-round wide receiver in fantasy this season after setting career bests in targets (181), receptions (135), receiving yards (1,749), and touchdowns (12) in 2023.

From RotoBaller

Kendrick Bourne Jul 23 6:50pm CT
Kendrick Bourne

New England Patriots wide receiver Kendrick Bourne (knee) is set to begin training camp on the PUP list. Bourne is recovering from a torn ACL suffered in October of 2023. Before his injury, Bourne was on his way to a mini breakout with 406 receiving yards and four touchdowns in eight games. Given the timeline of his injury, Bourne should be ready for thestart of the season, but don't expect him to display the same level of production. Players in their first year removed from an ACL injury tend not to fare well statistically. Not to mention, this projects to be a bottom-half offense with a potential rookie quarterback. Bourne is mainly an option in deep-league formats.

From RotoBaller

Antonio Gibson Jul 23 6:40pm CT
Antonio Gibson

New England Patriots running back Antonio Gibson (undisclosed) was placed on the active/NFI list to start training camp. The 26-year-old was added to the Patriots backfield as a depth piece and potential third-down running back. Gibson has been relatively durable throughout his career. He has played in at least 15 games in three straight seasons. Players are often placed on the NFI list during training camp, so this could turn out to be nothing, but it is worth monitoring. Gibson had a career-low in carries (65), rushing yards (265), and rushing touchdowns (1) in 2023 as he ceded the starting running back job to Brian Robinson Jr. Gibson is joining a Patriots team amid a considerable rebuild, especially on offense. Gibson's skills as a pass-catcher should come in handy in 2024, but the presence of incumbent Rhamondre Stevenson will likely once again limit Gibson's rushing upside. Generally, running backs on bad offense perform poorly for fantasy, so it may be best to look in another direction as you build out RB depth during your draft.

From RotoBaller

Matthew Stafford Jul 23 6:40pm CT
Matthew Stafford

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford took the field on Tuesday at the team's training camp. Stafford was noticeably absent from Monday's practice due to a contract dispute involving a guaranteed money structure. It would appear that it only took one day for the Rams and Stafford to come to an agreement. Stafford finished 2023 with 3,965 passing yards and 24 touchdowns in 15 games. Stafford helped propel Puka Nacua to his stellar WR4 finish. While Stafford only finished as the QB15, he got hot down the stretch with excellent games between Weeks 13 and 16. Stafford's days as a potential weekly fantasy starter are likely gone, but he could have some streaming value and is an excellent second quarterback in superflex leagues.

From RotoBaller

Tyjae Spears Jul 23 6:00pm CT
Tyjae Spears

Tennessee Titans running backs Tyjae Spears and Tony Pollard appear poised to split reps in 2024. While discussing a potential starter at running back, new head coach Brian Callahan indicated that both players could be interchangeable and may even share the field simultaneously. It affirms what many of us suspected heading into training camp, which is that this backfield will likely be roughly a 50/50 split. Both players have similar skill sets and are electric to watch when they get hot. Their speed will be a necessity given that the Titans enter the season with the 30th-ranked offensive line, according to PFF. Both players will leech each other's fantasy value in 2024. If second-year quarterback Will Levis can take a solid step forward, the dump-off opportunities could be there for both players if the running lanes are clogged. Each player is drafted outside the top-24 running backs in fantasy drafts, which is in line with RotoBaller's running back rankings that have Pollard as the RB25 while Spears is RB30.

From RotoBaller

Odell Beckham Jr. Jul 23 5:40pm CT
Odell Beckham Jr.

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (undisclosed) appears to be working through minor injuries to start training camp. The Dolphins placed Beckham on the active/PUP list on Tuesday. Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network indicated that this appears to be minor and part of the plan to ease Beckham back into football. After all, Beckham is a 31-year-old wide receiver who has not played a full season since 2019. After catching 35 balls for 565 yards and three touchdowns with the Ravens in 2023, Beckham will look to be a solid third option in the high-flying Miami offense in 2024. Unfortunately, the days of extreme production from Beckham are likely behind us. Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle will undoubtedly steal the show in this offense when healthy. Not to mention, rookie Malik Washington could see significant playing time. It is better to pass on Beckham in fantasy this year, but the veteran remains an option in best ball or deep-league formats.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Higbee Jul 23 5:40pm CT
Tyler Higbee

Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee (knee) was placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list on Tuesday. This is unsurprising, as Higbee suffered a torn ACL and MCL during the Rams' Wild Card Game loss to the Lions in January. The Rams signed Colby Parkinson this offseason to serve as their second tight end behind Higbee. Given the timeline of Higbee's injury, Parkinson may begin the year as the starter. Behind Parkinson, the Rams also have interesting second-year player Davis Allen and Hunter Long. Higbee has provided fantasy players with solid value over the years. He finished 2023 with 47 receptions for 495 yards and two touchdowns. Whoever begins the year as the starter should have a solid game here and there. For now, Higbee should be off your draft radar.

From RotoBaller

Ricky Pearsall Jul 23 3:36pm CT
Ricky Pearsall

San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall will open training camp on the non-football injury list. Pearsall has a hamstring injury and expects to miss at least the first week of practices. Any missed time could impact his chances of playing time to start the season.

Randy Gregory Jul 23 3:23pm CT
Randy Gregory

Tampa Bay Buccaneers LB Randy Gregory did not show up for the start of training camp and was placed on the Reserve/Did Not Report list on Tuesday, July 23.

From TheHuddle

Odell Beckham Jr. Jul 23 3:13pm CT
Odell Beckham Jr.

Miami Dolphins WR Odell Beckham Jr. (undisclosed) was placed on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform list on Tuesday, July 23.

Fantasy Spin: Beckham is reportedly "working through minor things" and his absence is not expected to be lengthy. In the meantime, it should give rookie Malik Washington a chance to make his case to win some early-season reps. Beckham is unlikely to be all that relevant in fantasy in 2024 barring an injury to Tyreek Hill or Jaylen Waddle. Even if one of those players missed extended time, Beckham has not proven to be durable enough to be worth much of a gamble in fantasy.

From TheHuddle

Matthew Stafford Jul 23 3:03pm CT
Matthew Stafford

Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford has reportedly 'worked something out' with the team and will report to training camp as expected on Tuesday, July 23. Stafford was seeking a bit of a pay raise in light of the explosion in salaries at the quarterback position in recent months.

Fantasy Spin: There is no word yet on the details, but it seems reasonable that Stafford will join the $50 million/season club at quarterback. Few quarterbacks closed the season out better than Stafford, who averaged 284 yards passing and threw for 15 touchdowns versus only three interceptions over his final six games. The 35-year-old has never been much of a threat with his legs, but he could still push for low-end QB1 numbers in what should easily be a top-10 offense in 2024.

From TheHuddle

Tyler Higbee Jul 23 3:03pm CT
Tyler Higbee

Los Angeles Rams TE Tyler Higbee (knee) will begin training camp on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform list, according to head coach Sean McVay.

From TheHuddle

Amari Cooper Jul 23 2:30pm CT
Amari Cooper

The Cleveland Browns and star wide receiver Amari Cooper have agreed to a restructured one-year contract, guaranteeing his $20 million salary and adding an additional $5 million. Cooper will still be entering the final year of his deal with the Browns, but the important takeaway for fantasy managers is that he's reported to the team for the start of training camp on Tuesday after skipping out on mandatory minicamp. The 30-year-old veteran wideout earned his fifth Pro Bowl selection last season after recording a career-high 1,250 receiving yards with 72 catches (128 targets) and five touchdowns through 15 outings. As the clear-cut centerpiece of Cleveland's passing game, Cooper remains safe to draft in fantasy leagues as a WR2 this summer after finishing third at the position in yards per catch (17.4).

From RotoBaller

Amari Cooper Jul 23 2:23pm CT
Amari Cooper

Cleveland Browns WR Amari Cooper reported to the start of training camp after the team handed him a $5 million raise and guaranteed his original base salary of $20 million on Tuesday, July 23.

Fantasy Spin: Cooper has been a durable and strong WR2 fantasy asset virtually every season since joining the NFL in 2015. His production was a bit more inconsistent last season as Cleveland rotated through multiple quarterbacks, but managers witnessed the kind of upside he possesses when he burned the Houston Texans for 265 yards and two touchdowns in Week 16 last year. Assuming Deshaun Watson can stay healthy more often in 2024, Cooper should finish as a top 15 fantasy receiver.

From TheHuddle

George Kittle Jul 23 2:10pm CT
George Kittle

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (groin) is fully healthy for the start of the team's training camp on Tuesday. Kittle dropped to 214 pounds, a 30-pound loss, after his core muscle surgery because he wasn't able to work, but he's now back up to his playing weight of 240-243 pounds. While the 29-year-old star tight end tends to be boom-or-bust from a fantasy perspective, he still totaled 65 catches on 90 targets for 1,020 yards and six touchdowns overall across 16 appearances in San Fran in 2023 and remains one of the game's top-tier options at the position. If star wideout Brandon Aiyuk ultimately has his trade request satisfied ahead of the regular season, Kittle's floor would become more stable as more of an offensive focal point in the Niners' high-octane attack.

From RotoBaller

George Kittle Jul 23 2:03pm CT
George Kittle

San Francisco 49ers TE George Kittle told reporters on Tuesday, July 23, that his weight dropped to 214 pounds this offseason as he recovered from core muscle surgery. He has since returned to his normal playing weight of 243 pounds.

Fantasy Spin: That is a huge weight swing over the course of a few months, so fantasy managers could be forgiven if they choose to downgrade him a bit due to the likelihood of injury - especially considering he will turn 31 in October. With that said, few tight ends possess his upside. The best play for pro-Kittle managers is probably to pair him with a high-floor tight end such as Tyler Conklin in the later rounds. Even though he will be a hit-or-miss option, Kittle's upside keeps him firmly in the TE1 discussion.

From TheHuddle

Courtland Sutton Jul 23 2:00pm CT
Courtland Sutton

Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton will report to the team for the start of training camp. Sutton staged a holdout this spring, but his absence won't extend into camp. His contract doesn't expire until 2025. The 28-year-old wideout hauled in a career-high 10 touchdown passes in 16 games for the Broncos last year, good for a ridiculous 16.9% rate over his 59 receptions (90 targets), so regression in the scoring column is certainly due. Still, Sutton is Denver's clear-cut alpha target for whoever is under center this fall following Jerry Jeudy's offseason departure, and he should be treated as a volume-based WR3 in drafts this summer.

From RotoBaller